The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered, in open session, its judgments on Mr Lubanga's appeal against the verdict issued by ICC Trial Chamber I, that Mr Lubanga was guilty of the enlistment, conscription and use in hostilities of children under the age of fifteen.

Based on the evidence submitted to its consideration, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC found that there was a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population pursuant to an organisational policy adopted to attack civilians perceived to be non-Hema, such as those belonging to Lendu, Bira and Nande ethnic groups.

Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC), ruling in the majority, sentenced Germain Katanga to a total of 12 years' imprisonment. The Chamber also ordered that the time spent in detention at the ICC – between 18 September 2007 and 23 May 2014 – be deducted from his sentence.

Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) rendered its judgment in the case The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga. The Chamber was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of Germain Katanga’s guilt as an accessory to one crime against humanity (murder) and four war crimes (murder, attacking a civilian population, destruction of property and pillaging) committed on 24 February 2003 during the attack on the village of Bogoro, in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Decisions on sentencing and victim reparations will be rendered later.

U.S. authorities announced on Thursday that they have sanctioned Rwanda over the recruitment of child soldiers by the M23 rebels operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Nations and rights groups have accused Kigali of supporting the rebels.

DR Congo’s government said on Friday it has sent three international arrest warrants to Rwanda against former M23 rebel leader Jean-Marie Runiga and commanders Baudouin Ngaruye, Eric Badege and Innocent Zimurinda.

After years of fleeing justice, Bosco Ntaganda finally appeared before the ICC to start a lengthy process to decide whether to press war crime charges against him. Ntaganda made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

U.S. President Barack Obama told Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Tuesday to stop all support for the M23 rebels wreaking havoc in eastern Congo. During a phone call, Mr. Obama warned Mr. Kagame that “any support to the rebel group M23 is inconsistent with Rwanda’s desire for stability and peace.”

Baudoin Ngaruye and Innocent Kaina are being designated for their involvement in the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the conflict in the DRC and for being leaders of a group that is impeding the disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement of combatants.